ST185 no boost, runs fine

gtapexmickey

New member
So I have a 1989 narrow body GT4 that about a year ago suddenly wouldn't boost. I felt no specific change or anything happen. Just would not increase boost pressure. Gauge is working and reads vacuum fine. But absolutely no boost pressure. I jumped the gun on a kinegawa turbo because I wanted to upgrade anyway. Didn't solve the problem. I thoughtaybe the waste gate actuator or possibly the T-VSV, so I got the forge one that bypasses the vsv. Still no boost at all. I smoke tested to find a possible leak but I don't see anything. I spoke to a few people and they said it may have skipped a tooth in timing, but I'm not sure. Haven't done a compression test or popped the timing cover yet because it's a bit tight there. figured I'd make a post to see if anyone has any insight before I did.
 

underscore

Well-known member
Do you have an aftermarket guage or are you using the stock one? It sounds like the sending unit or the guage itself isn't working properly if you didn't actually feel a difference when driving. Get a mechanical guage on the engine or hook an air line to the pressure sensor with the ignition on and gently apply some positive pressure and see if it starts reading anything.
 

gtapexmickey

New member
underscore":1jad4rmz said:
Do you have an aftermarket guage or are you using the stock one? It sounds like the sending unit or the guage itself isn't working properly if you didn't actually feel a difference when driving. Get a mechanical guage on the engine or hook an air line to the pressure sensor with the ignition on and gently apply some positive pressure and see if it starts reading anything.

I have both the stock as well as a mechanical, both read vacuum, both go up to about 2 psi on WOT near redline, which is about normal for most non turbo cars. I have like no power, probably because I have no boost
 

grip-addict

Active member
Recommend checking:
The wastegate actuator to make sure the flapper door is shut at rest
That the flapper door opens at the psi you want it to
The exhaust bolts/studs between the head and the turbo are all tight and that there is no leaks from there
That the comp/turbine wheel can freely spin and that you didn't leave a shop rag in there like someone that looks suspiciously like me did in the past...
 

underscore

Well-known member
Ah I see what you mean now. When you swapped the turbo did you unbolt the manifold from the head? The gasket might be leaking if it's not an intake leak. On that front I'd check the two vacuum lines going to the PS pump, they're set up in such a way that they like to fall off and they're a bit hidden (you can see the ends with the wheel off) so it's easy to miss if they're leaking.
 

gtapexmickey

New member
grip-addict":11oszvtb said:
Recommend checking:
The wastegate actuator to make sure the flapper door is shut at rest
That the flapper door opens at the psi you want it to
The exhaust bolts/studs between the head and the turbo are all tight and that there is no leaks from there
That the comp/turbine wheel can freely spin and that you didn't leave a shop rag in there like someone that looks suspiciously like me did in the past...

Waste gate is closed, even still I'd build boost in higher rpm. Never took the manifold off so I don't think I messed up the manifold to head connection. I had this condition prior to replacing the turbo
 

underscore

Well-known member
My thinking is if the manifold is leaking and you didn't take it off then it will still be leaking. I think the left side under the alternator is the usual spot since it's hard to see.
 

grip-addict

Active member
does it "feel" like it's boosting at all? I'm guessing not but it's worth asking.
does the wg spring take sufficient pressure to move? If it just blows open with the slightest breath of wind, then that could be the cause
is your wg flapper door binding up or can it freely move?
 

gtapexmickey

New member
grip-addict":k08wd0ys said:
does it "feel" like it's boosting at all? I'm guessing not but it's worth asking.
does the wg spring take sufficient pressure to move? If it just blows open with the slightest breath of wind, then that could be the cause
is your wg flapper door binding up or can it freely move?

No power, feels slower than a stock 5sfe. Waste gate moves with no issue, actuator hold it's shut, it is a brand new turbo
 

Gert

Active member
gtapexmickey":2njwviql said:
I spoke to a few people and they said it may have skipped a tooth in timing, but I'm not sure. Haven't done a compression test or popped the timing cover yet because it's a bit tight there.
Good point.
When the turbo is fine and the wastegate too I should check compression and cam gear timing.
 

alltracman78

Active member
HIGHLY unlikely to impossible an exhaust leak would cause that much loss of boost. Unless you had a giant hole.

Check engine and ignition timing. If your engine is running hot it will retard ignition timing. Or if it thinks there's knock. Which can effect boost.
Also make sure your cat isn't clogged, if you have one. Checking compression is a good idea too.
 

gtapexmickey

New member
alltracman78":1q3q9m7m said:
HIGHLY unlikely to impossible an exhaust leak would cause that much loss of boost. Unless you had a giant hole.

Check engine and ignition timing. If your engine is running hot it will retard ignition timing. Or if it thinks there's knock. Which can effect boost.
Also make sure your cat isn't clogged, if you have one. Checking compression is a good idea too.

So I finally got around to checking compression at least and this harbor freight tester shows roughly 125 psi across all 4 cylinders. Im curious if it's that accurate or if I'm really that low on each cyl while running fine. I may be thinking was I hear in terms of turbo spool to be air either out of the exhaust or somewhere vacuum but I can't tell from where. It may have a manifold leak but Im still no sure I could have literally zero boost through the rev range from that. And it's not that loud. Do you guys think I may be a tooth off causing it to not send enough exhaust through the turbine?
 

Gert

Active member
gtapexmickey":1de4c2v5 said:
It may have a manifold leak but Im still no sure I could have literally zero boost through the rev range from that. And it's not that loud. Do you guys think I may be a tooth off causing it to not send enough exhaust through the turbine?
Hmm, zero boost, I doubt.
I had my cams off timing once, but was still able to build up some boost. The car was stock back then and I thought it was about 0,5 bar max.

So, zero boost? Very strange and impossible to tell from after my desk, I am afraid.
 

gtapexmickey

New member
So I finally got around to get it to my shop. It is indeed in time. Marks line up perfectly. Maybe what I'm hearing is either air or exhaust leak and not turbo. WOT I still get nothing. Gets to about .1 bar on my guage. Going to smoke the system and see
 

gtapexmickey

New member
So smoke test found leaks from the 2 larger vacuum hoses of the pipe from the air box to the turbo, as well as a big split where that pipe connects to the turbo itself. Some smaller smoke leaks came through the spark plug tubes (guess I need a valve cover gasket), very small smoke coming from the pin for the wastegate flapper, and a small hole in the exhaust pipe near the rear axle.
 

alltracman78

Active member
gtapexmickey":1yc658o2 said:
So smoke test found leaks from the 2 larger vacuum hoses of the pipe from the air box to the turbo, as well as a big split where that pipe connects to the turbo itself. Some smaller smoke leaks came through the spark plug tubes (guess I need a valve cover gasket), very small smoke coming from the pin for the wastegate flapper, and a small hole in the exhaust pipe near the rear axle.


You have a big split in the turbo pipe and the engine runs fine?

Dude, there's a whole lot missing here.......
 

gtapexmickey

New member
alltracman78":1ooxr52e said:
gtapexmickey":1ooxr52e said:
So smoke test found leaks from the 2 larger vacuum hoses of the pipe from the air box to the turbo, as well as a big split where that pipe connects to the turbo itself. Some smaller smoke leaks came through the spark plug tubes (guess I need a valve cover gasket), very small smoke coming from the pin for the wastegate flapper, and a small hole in the exhaust pipe near the rear axle.


You have a big split in the turbo pipe and the engine runs fine?

Dude, there's a whole lot missing here.......

The intake duct from the air box to the turbo. So pre turbo
 
gtapexmickey":rq09h5mr said:
The intake duct from the air box to the turbo. So pre turbo
Yes, but all after the AFM (meaning you are taking in air that is not being measured by the AFM). That will cause some problems with the engine running too lean. You should seal everything up that you now found (interesting that you didn't find/see this the first time you checked for leaks). No point in trying to diagnose boost problems with that kind of intake air leaks you have right now.
 

gtapexmickey

New member
93celicaconv":w6op4mzc said:
gtapexmickey":w6op4mzc said:
The intake duct from the air box to the turbo. So pre turbo
Yes, but all after the AFM (meaning you are taking in air that is not being measured by the AFM). That will cause some problems with the engine running too lean. You should seal everything up that you now found (interesting that you didn't find/see this the first time you checked for leaks). No point in trying to diagnose boost problems with that kind of intake air leaks you have right now.

Went gum tape daddy til the new one gets here, no more leak, still no boost
 
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